Safety ash tray



March 221, 11950 B. J. LUREAU Y 2,501,066

SAFETY Asn TRAY FiledV may 5, 1947 IN VEN TOR. S6/25677527 J iz/regu,

ATTD RN EYB Patented Mar. 2l, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a safety ashtray, and more particularly to an ashtray provided with means precluding the falling of lighted cigarettes outside the tray.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved ashtray characterized by means for retaining lighted cigarettes in a position adjacent the center of the tray, in such manner that in the event the cigarette is forgotten, upon burning, and consequent shifting of the center of weight thereof, in the event that the cigarette falls olf the support it will fall into the tray, and not exteriorly thereof, thus substantially eliminating the possibility ofmarring or damaging furniture, or starting fires, by such forgotten cigarettes.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which will retain the cigarettes in such position that ashes falling therefrom will fall within the confines of the tray, and not exteriorly thereof.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such an article which may be readily manufactured with eXtreme simplicity, and corresponding low cost.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there are disclosed preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of an ashtray embodying the features of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 as viewed in the direction as indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 in the direction as indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the draw- 111g.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is generally indicated at I0 an ashtray of any desired conventional configuration. In the illustrative embodiment shown the ashtray is circular in form, and provided with a relatively high outer rim I4. It is to be understood that the ashtray may be any desired size, but must be of an overall diameter in excess of the normal I length of a cigarette, and of relatively substantial depth, for reasons that will appear hereinafter.

The ashtray III is adapted to be provided with a cigarette supporting member or insert generally indicated at 2U. The insert 20 is comprised of two oppositely disposed U-shaped base portions 2l, adapted to rest on the base of the ashtray interiorly thereof. Each of the U-shaped base portions 2I terminate in upright portions 22, which extend upwardly substantially half the height of the rim I4, thence merging into inwardly turned portion 23, which extend inwardly a substantial distance from the rim, but well spaced from the center of the tray. The portions 23 terminate at their extremities in uprights 24 which are connected by spaced parallel portions 25, provided with indentations 25 for the reception of cigarettes.

Seated upon and secured to the horizontal portions 23 are a plurality of concentric wire rings 21 the outermost of which is spaced a slight distance inwardly from the rim I4 of the tray, while the innermost is positioned adjacent to the upright portions 24. Additional arcuate wire members 28 extend substantially adjacent but below the parallel portions 25, from one end thereof to the other. The function and purpose of the wire rings and members 28 is to preclude the dropping of a lit cigarette into the bottom of the ashtray, in the event that the user thereof has not finished with the same, but at the same time in the event that the cigarette is temporarily forgotten and burned to a point where it is overbalanced, it will be precluded from falling to the table or the like, but will be supported until such time as the stub thereof has burnt sufficiently short to fall between the rings 21.

In the particular construction disclosed the insert 20 is primarily adapted for the use of circular ashtrays, and it may be built to any desired size, also if desired the configuration may be Varied to suit rectangular ashtrays or the like.

From the foregoing the use and operation of the device should be readily understandable. The insert may be positioned in the ashtray as indicated. In the use of the same cigarettes are laid transversely across the members 25 and 2S resting in the indentations 2B. Obviously in the event that a cigarette burns short, and is consequently unbalanced the heavy end of the cigarette will cause the same to fall after it has burned to a length sufliciently short to fall between the members or rings 2l, thus precluding the possibility of its falling eXteriorly of the ashtray, as so frequently happens in the use of those ashtrays provided with recesses or indentations on the rims thereof for the reception of cigarettes.

It may be pointed out that with the construction described cleansing of the ashtray is facilitated, for the reason that by rotating the member and insert 20 within the confines of the ashtray the U-shaped portions 22 may serve as scrapers to remove debris, such as stuck cigarettes, or the like from the base of the tray, thus affording a relatively effective scraper for the tray base.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved safety ashtray, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modiiicationsmay be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpretedV merely as i1- lustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a safety ashtray including a receptacle having a rim thereabouts, a bridge member adapted to be positioned transversely across saidreceptacle, and including4 supporting portions adaptedy to rest on the bottom, of thel receptacle,

uprights extending from said supports adjacent to and below the rim, horizontal portions extending inwardly from said uprights, additional upw rights extending upwardly from said horizontal portions and second horizontal. portions substantia-lly level with the top of the rim` of the tray connected to said, additional uprights, anda plurality of concentric Wire ringsrestingon said rst-mentiored horizontal members.

2. In a safety ashtray including a receptacle having a rim thereabouts, a bridge member adapted to be positioned transversely across said receptacle, and including supporting portions adapted to rest on the bottom of the receptacle, uprights extending from said portions adjacent to rim to a point below the top thereof, horizontal portions extending inwardly from said uprights, additional uprights extending upwardly from said horizontal portions and connected by second horizontal portionsV substantially level with the top of the rim of the tray, and a plurality of concentric wire rings resting on said rst-mentioned horizontal members, said secondnamed horizontal portions being provided with undulations providing cigarette rests.

BERTRAND J. LUREAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 127,306 Pearce May 20, 1941 578,652 Morrison Mar. 9, 1897 1,771,248 Cook July 22, 1930 1,964,388 Simpson June 26, 1934' 2,083,392 Nerem June 8', 1937 2,255,428 Leiman Sept. 9, 1941. 2,298,826 Grady Oct. 13, 1942' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 455,445 Germany Feb. 3, 1928 

